29 Homes Destroyed in Rock Creek Wildfire
The Testalinder fire continues to burn uncontained near Oliver, B.C. (photo courtesy Wildfire Management Branch)
Prince George, B.C. – The wildfire burning west of Rock Creek, in the Booundary region of southern BC, has now destroyed 29 homes as well as 17 structures on eleven other properties.
The Rock Creek fire is now estimated at 3,750 hectares and could increase in size with a warm drying trend expected over the next several days. BC Wildfire Service crews are working with structural protection firefighters from throughout the region to protect life and property in the area. The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary has issued an Evacuation Order and an additional Evacuation Alert.
The fire is uncontained and extremely dangerous. Anyone entering the evacuation area will be putting themselves and firefighters at risk. This area contains multiple potential hazards, including active wildfire, “danger trees”, heavy equipment use and downed power lines.
There are currently 102 firefighters, 7 helicopters and 14 pieces of heavy equipment fighting the fire.
The cause of this wildfire is under investigation, but it is suspected to be human-caused.
Meantime, two fires continue burning near Oliver. The Testalinden fire, seven kilometers south of Oliver, is estimated at 1,566 hectares and is uncontained. Airtankers, six helicopters and 96 firefighters continue to work towards establishing containment. An evacuation order remains in place for approximately 100 homes in the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen.
The Wilson’s Mountain fire is located one kilometre north of Oliver and is now estimated at 317 hectares in size. The fire is a smouldering ground fire with minimal open flame. Twenty-nine firefighters established guard around portions of the perimeter. They were supported by four helicopters. This afternoon the BC Wildfire Service recommended the downgrade of the evacuation order to an evacuation alert for residents in the immediate area.
The fire danger rating in the Prince George Fire Centre is predominantly moderate, with two pockets with a high rating to the west and the northeast of the region. There has been one new fire start in the PG Fire Centre, that caused by a human, over the past three days
Comments
Another smoker who should be shot.
I see where fire fighting helicopters had to be grounded because some idiot was flying his drone in the fire zone. Get the shot gun out and shoot it down.
Posted on Sunday, August 16, 2015 @ 5:24 PM by PG101
Another smoker who should be shot.
You mean the fire centre trying to cover their butts after a slow response.
I like the cops to treat smokers like they did the marijuana smokers 30 years age . If caught smoking and no ashtray in the car u get a ticket or car sized. And if suspected in starting a fire they can try to prove you are guilty by combing the carpet looking for evidence of smoking, looking for filters, ash, matches, cig burns in the seat, visor, etc.
“The cause of this wildfire is under investigation, but it is suspected to be human-caused.”
Where does it say anything about smokers or a cigarette??
This article doesn’t say that but it’s all over the news that people witnessed it and they are trying to use highway cams to identify who it was.
They’ll never have to pay anyways. They’ll get a slap on the wrist in court and it’ll be the taxpayers picking up the tab. Actually our taxes will stay the same but other areas will have to be cut…. Biggest spenders are healthcare and education so maybe from there?
Hopefully people remember where that money has to come from next time they are careless with fire.
Human Caused…A piece of broken glass laying on the ground in 39C weather can easily start a fire. Just saying.
The reports I heard was that the fire to the south of the highway was caused by lightening, and that the fire north of the highway was under investigation.
I know that with the new air pollution regulations all new highway tractors are to be equipped with mandatory DEF systems. When these system go into a burn off mode (driver has no control over this as its all done by sensors and the computer)… when a highway truck goes into burn off mode to clean the exhaust the exhaust can run as hot as 1300 degrees.
When a DEF system kicks in and the exhaust goes from 3-400 degrees to 1300 degrees anything even close to the exhaust will ignite… sparks will fly and it makes a cigarette but look like a speck in comparison. Its a huge hazard for loggers, chip haulers, and anyone else that works near the bush and may have derby build up around the DEF exhaust.
4-5 years ago this was not a problem as the trucks didn’t come with the new DEF system to reduce exhaust emissions. When I hear a fire was started next to a highway I think DEF caused fire and not a smoker, by a long shot if anyone knows how it works… the driver was probably oblivious of what happened in the rear view mirror.
I know of a lot of loggers out there trying to find any of the old trucks they can just to get around the new DEF regulations. I honestly don’t think trucks with DEF should even be allowed near our forests, much less mandated by law. Emissions savings verse forest fires… it should be a no brainer.
When I was a kid going to hockey school in Penticton one year they had the mother of all fires up in the hills, and thoughts of evacuating the whole city… that was scary at the time. I can relate to what they went through as it is almost a replay of those past events.
I would have thought they would have better permanent fire guards in place around populated areas in that part of the province by now?
@Eagleone – I’m sure 1941 was a scary time for everyone
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